Have I cared for the bodies and souls of my ser

vants ?

Have I provoked my children and servants to anger and to rebellion, by harshness and haste?

Have I, since I became old, been worldly and careless ? Have I set that most dangerous example of an aged sinner?

Am I guilty of any of these sins now at this very time?

EXAMINATION VIII.

COMMANDMENT VI.

Have I been guilty of passion?
Have I struck or wounded another?
Have I injured others in any way ?

Have I cherished malice and ill will to my neighbour ? and if so, how long did I remain in this dreadful sin and peril?

Did I refuse to be reconciled?

Did I neglect to explain, and to remove the cause of offence, and to labour for a reconciliation?

Have I been a peacemaker, or have I joined and abetted parties, and divisions, and feuds ?

Have I desired the death of others, or rejoiced in it, under any pretext whatsoever?

Have I been quarrelsome and provoking, and tempted others into anger and hatred?

Have I murdered the souls of others by tempting them to sin, and by setting them an evil example?

Have I neglected to relieve the sick and poor?

Have I closed my hand against giving liberally to convert the heathen, and forward the salvation of my brethren ?

Have I overtaxed the strength of those who worked for me, and injured their health?

Am I guilty of any such sin at this present time?

9

EXAMINATION IX.

COMMANDMENT VII.

Have I committed adultery, or fornication?
Have I been guilty of any unclean act?

If I have, how often did I sin? How long did I live in this hateful and perilous state?

Have I indulged impure thoughts?

Have I joined in unclean jests and conversation? Have I been at pains to subdue my lusts by fasting? Have I on the contrary inflamed them by surfeiting and intemperance?

Have I been guilty of greediness, and sloth, and the habits which are connected with fleshly indulgence? Am I guilty at this time of any of these things?

EXAMINATION X.

COMMANDMENT VIII.

Have I defrauded any one?

If so, have I restored the unlawful gain?

Have I taken any bribe to induce others to sell their property at less than its value.

Have I taken anything as a perquisite which I dared not take, if I had been seen?

Have I bought and sold unfairly, concealing the defects of what I sold, and taking advantage of the needs of those from whom I bought?

Have I used false weights or measures?

Have I sold adulterated goods for sound, and been a party to the cheating so common in trade?

Did I pay my just debts when I had the power? If I was not able to pay when I ought to have done so and was excused, did I make it good afterwards, when my circumstances improved?

Have I defrauded the Government by not paying duties or taxes?

Have I paid due and right wages to my servants and labourers?

Have I by idleness or extravagance injured my family, or my neighbours, or creditors?

Have I sought to make restitution and reparation for all injuries and wrongs done by me to any other? Am I guilty at this present time of any of these things?

EXAMINATION XI.

COMMANDMENT IX.

Have I borne false testimony in any cause?
Have I injured the character of another?

If so, have I made reparation, and set him right with those to whom I had slandered him?

Have I spread evil reports without examining or much caring whether they were true?

Have I indulged in gossiping and uncharitable speeches ?

Have I lied and been false?

Have I been forward to blame Governments, and leaders of fleets, and armies, and persons holding difficult offices?

Have I been a flatterer and insincere, saying one thing before a man, and another behind him; and have I praised others beyond what I meant in my heart?

Am I guilty of any such things even now?

EXAMINATION XII.

COMMANDMENT X.

Have I desired the wife of another?

Have I desired the estate of another?

Have I wished for the office or position of others ? Have I coveted other men's gifts and abilities? Have I been discontented?

Have I been grasping and hard?

Have I been anxious, and restless, ever seeking to have more, and ever fearing to have less?

Have I been ashamed of CHRIST'S poverty, and thought it an intolerable evil?

Have I made haste to be rich, and neglected my soul, and good works, that I might be so?

Have I been prudent and industrious?

Have I looked to GoD, and prayed to Him, and trusted in Him, for so much as is needful in this life? Have I desired, and am I desiring, that which is not my own-this world? and neglecting that which is my own, if I will seek it,-eternal life?

EXAMINATION XIII.

REPENTANCE.

Have I examined myself carefully, and truly, as I shall wish I had done when the Judge is sitting upon the Throne?

Have I not often repented, and gone back to my old sins?

Have I made restitution and reparation, so far as I

can ?

Have I a humbled and tender heart, a broken and contrite spirit?

If I have, does my repentance show itself in great humility, charity, and devotion?

Am I willing to endure shame and sorrow for my sins?

Am I desirous of pardon, and ready to go through all the parts of repentance, and with tears, and chastisements and humiliation to seek reconciliation with my justly offended GOD?

G

CHAPTER VI.-RECONCILIATION.

THY sins have found thee out. Conscience has brought them home. It is bitter and shameful and full of fear to know the past, but how much better than to learn it first at the day of judgment. Yea, the sweetness of pardon, the honour of penitence, the confidence of reconciliation may yet be thine. Arise now, therefore, and go unto thy FATHER by repentance. The acts of penitence may indeed be hard, but harder is the fruit of impenitence; and sweet gleams of hope will cheer thee on thy way, and the breath of the SPIRIT will refresh thee. Remember how thou hast served this world. Has any labour seemed too great for it? Hast thou refused the knife, or the bitter medicine to save thy body? Hast thou not made ventures to secure thy property, and lost much to save or gain more? The sailor throws the whole cargo into the ocean to save his ship. The captive gives large money to obtain his freedom. Wilt thou be wise for time, and a fool for eternity? Wilt thou do less for Heaven, than for earth; yea to escape from hell to which thy earthly cares were leading thee?

Having now, like the prodigal, discovered thy misery, and deeply sorrowing for it, follow him also in his repentance. He forsook his sins. He took a toilsome journey. He confessed to his father. He besought forgiveness with deep humility. He did what he could. Do thou also what thou canst. David confessed openly, although a king, "I have sinned." Mary Magdalene humbled herself, and with tears, and with mortification of that beauty by which she had sinned, sought and obtained forgiveness. Zacchæus both confessed his injustice, made restitution, punished himself four-fold, and gave half of his goods to the poor. And no repentance is sincere which does not seek to undo